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It’s a big shift from worrying about not enough forage to worrying about too much and the resulting cattle-bloat issues, but that’s what’s happening in some parts of the state.

Winter wheat and cool-season forages continued to greatly improve thanks to more rain during early March, lessening the need for feeding expensive hay.

“Calving season is in full swing,” says Missy Hodgin, Texas AgriLife Extension agent. “Cows are in decent condition. Bloat is a big concern, especially with cows and calves on wheat pasture. Some producers are reporting death loss to bloat as high as 10%.”

“Dry and windy conditions the past week have farmers in the fields planting,” says Pasquale Swaner, AgriLife Extension agent. “Bloat on cattle has been reported due to all the clover growing.”